Machine for sealing circulars



April 27,1926.

A. H. GUSTAFSON MACHINE FOR SEALING CIRCULARS s sheets-sheet 1 Fi1ed`June 91' 1920 L* O UN Ildllllilllllldull ll-IIIZIIIII! dri/71142211 (t/SWS Qn, Tay 5MM, @Wye-W JCL., y

April 27 1926. 1,582,135

' A. H. GUsTAFsoN MACHINE FOR SEALING CICULARS Filed June 9, -1920 3- Sheets-Sheet 2 nl a :Il LJ n lll April 27, 192s; 1,582,135

A. H. GUSTAFSON MACHINE FOR SEALING CIRCULARS Filed June 9, 1920 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Apr. 27, 1926A.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.l

ARTHUR GUSTAFSON, F JERSEY CTY, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO HENRY E.

HOLBROOK, 0F BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS. v

MACHINE FOR SEALING CIRCULABS.

Application filed June 9,

ier applying machines adapted partie ly iorapplying' Waters or stamps to fo l sheet material for mailing or other purposes.

i ne particular ei'i'ibodiinent of my inyen` tion described herein is illustrated in the aoconipanying drawings in which We. l isa plan;

2, a side elevation partly broken 3, a vertical longitudinal section on the o l-3 l, also partly broken an' n y Y i i a, a. partial Vertical detaillookingat ratchet Wheels 'rf fr' i' i,

f5, iroin he righ,

` a partial side elevation similar to 2, with a bracket 25fbroken away for M to show morein detail the article' 'l step ly step Water feeding` means Fie, G, a. Jartial vertical section of the stes :a l .l ledm-,- nieans on the line of the rib n i f Edy "ofwel sealing machine comprises, F 2, 3, a. base l, With suitable supports or and a table 3 supported above the oase s by leet `l, along' Whichthe folders or she-ets are ifedvfrorn the Fig. l, right hand end.

.feeding the sheets l ha ve provided the novel construetion. @n the base l, 'and preferably near the forward end, is inounteda sui" Jle'niotor 5 adapted' to be connected by nire S with any oonfel nt source of poweigas an ordinary elecht socket, not shown, and controller eter l, carries a letten lines in mesh with a gearvl, l n sha l() extendedl chine has and suitably jourli by Worin sh att 8,

Watch of the chains 1920.` serial- No. 387,5?3.

lWheelsk l1, over which run sprocket chains 12, which travel through two slots or channels 13 on the table 3, to similar sprocket Wheels lllat the rear end of the table, 1nount ed on a shaft l5, see dotted lines, Fig. l. This shaft Al is journaled in the frame or base l and carries at one end Fig. l, a gear 16 in mesh with a smaller pinion '17, dotted lines, on the end ot a folder accelerating shaft 18 supported at its opposite end in an arin 19 on the base l. This shaft carries a plurality of accelerating rollers 20, as of rublser and, as they are geared to run faster than the sprocket Wheels le and gear 16, they accelerate the initial speed of the `folder and position it quickly upon the tableready to be fed forward hy the first lugs 2l on the chains l2 to approach it after it is positioned. e

By this novel means the operator is relieved of the necessity of depositing the folders on the table 3 each Vtime justf ahead of the lugsV 2l which' requires very close and accurate feeding o' the folders, and which is very latiguing.

Even if the folders are deposited late for the set oi approaching lugs, the rollers' 2O pick up the ro-lders and push them ahead on the table in advance. of the lugs, ready by them to the Wafer or stamp applying elements.

ln the table top and properly located is a Wafer or stamp receiving or holding poeket 23 `which will loe hereafter referred to.

rlie stamp magazine, and feeding and a` plying` niechanisn'i are carried by a head 24, Figs. l, 2, 3, supported on and connecting opposite bracket members 25supporte`d, in turn, from the two sides ciC the base.l One of the bracketsr is hinged at 2G so that hy removingthe screws 27 the head and brackets may be raised to allow access to the parts not otherwise readily accessible.

rThe head 24 comprises two upright side members 29, 30, Figs. l, 2, havin@4 flanges 3l, which are secured to the brackets 25, 26, hy serews 32. k`Depending*'from the brackets and, herein, at eitherside of said head, are two pressure bars 33 which are suspended by means of pins 34 with adjustable heads thereon, the pins carrying spiral springsv 36 seated against the members and the un-y der 'faces of the brackets 25.

These members 33 serve to keep the folders fiat on the table 8 and prevent them from overriding the lugs 2l on the chains l2, the adjustment of the members 38 being made to accomn'iodate the particular folder in use if necessary.

Mounted between the sides 29, 80, Figs. 2, 8, and near the top of the same, is the wafer or stamp magazine 37. This magazine is shown as a hollow or tubular member in this case, although it obviously may be of any shape in cross section to receive the particular outline of stamp to be used.

The bottom 88 of the magazine, Fig. 3, is preferably inciined somewhat and partly cut away to permit the wafers to impinge upon the transferring member to be described, at the proper angle.

`The wafer 39 Fig. 8, may be pressed downward by a weight 40 and this, in turn, may also have additional pressure applied to it as desired by a coiled spring 4l seated against the weight and top 42 of the maga- Zine 3T and encircling the rod 48 threaded into the weight and extended through the top 42 and carrying al knob 44 by means of which the weight may be withdrawn against the pressure of the spring` when the magazine is to be filled.

Secured to the front and lower end of the magazine Fig. 3, is a wafer pressure finger and guide 45 which acts to retain the wafer closely againstthe wafer picking roll and guide it to the further transferring members, all to be described.

The transfer or wafer picking roll 4G, Fig. 8, is mounted on a shaft 47 journaled in the sides 29, 30, and is provided with a wafer feeding surface of rough rubber or similar material that will impinge upon and `pick oft' the bottom wafer from the stack in the magazine and carry it forward beneath the wafer guiding linger 45.

J ust in advance of the roll 46 are a series of smaller feeding or transferring rolls 48 also having a wafer feeding surface as of rubber or other suitable material all journaled in the side members 29, 30.

in the rear of the rolls 48, Fig. 3, and be neath the picking roll 4G is the transferring and moistening roll 49 of similar const-ruction, the roll being kept moist by the wick 50 protruding forward and against the roll from the water reservoir 5i. rIhis reservoir may be filled through an opening 52 at its top and is supported by slots 58 on its sides which receive ribs 54, see dotted lines F ig. 3,' on the inner edges of the bracket ends 25, thus permitting ready withdrawal of the reservoir w'hen desired.

On the Fig. l, upper end of the shaft 47 is a gear which meshes with a small gear 57 on the sha-ft of top roll 48, and this roll is in turn so connected with the remaining rolls 48, by means of geared idlers 58 just in advance of them, that the rolls 48 all rotate in the same direction and the roll 46 cooperates therewith to receive the wafer from the magazine and feed it downward.

To strip the wafer or stamp from the roll 46, Figs. l, 3, and ensure the feeding of the same to the folder, ,provide two wafer stripping needles 59 which are mounted on a bar 60 pivotally secured between the sides 29, 30. The upper ends of these needles are curved to rest in grooves (3l in the face of the roll 46, and thus they underlie the wafer as it is fed forward by the roll and guide 45 to the point where it is impinged by the rolls 48, and then fed downward against the moisteningroll 4) from whence it drops into the pocket 23 already referred to in an upright position under the guidance of the needles 59.

have found that the wafer or stamp is more effectually applied to the folder by first, a. combined rubbing or smoothing action, and second, by a direct or perpendicula-rly applied pressing action. Hence I have provided novel means for obtaining this result. To that end, Fig. l, I secure to inwardly extended flanges 62 on the inner faces of the sides 29, 80, and at the forward end of the same, a plate 68. Depending from this plate by means of pins 64 to which it is threaded, Fig. 3, is a smoothing plate (35, frictionally adjustable heads, as of rubber, (56 on the pins 64 serving to suspend the plate at the proper distance.

Springs 67, Fig. 8, on the pins provide the necessary pressure, for the plate 65, for smoothing` out the wrinkles in the wafer and laying it smoothly on the opposite sides of the folder.

In advance of the smoothing plate 65 are the pressure rolls 68, G9. fthe former is mounted, Fig. 1, in two elongated bearings TO which are secured to the forward end of the plate 68. The bearings are drilled vertically to receive each a spring pressed pin 7l, Fig. 3, the spring 72 being seated against the pin and against a screw 78 threaded into the top of bearing. The roll 69 is journaled in the table 3. These rolls may be of any desired material.

For actuating the picking roll 46 with a step by step motion to ensure regular and positive feeding of the wafers, provide the shaft 4T on the Fig. l lower end, with a ratchet wheel 74' with the teeth pointed rearwardly of the machine, and beside it a ratchet wheel 75 with the teeth pointed forwardly of the machine, both wheels fast on the shaft.

Depending from the shaft 47, Fig. 2, is an arm 7G, with a hub 77 fast thereon, which arm drops through a slot or cut away portion 78 of the table 8 into the path of the advancing folder. '.he upwardly extended arm T9, on the hub Fig. 4, has its end offset and it overlies the ratchet 4, said offset end i carrying a pawl S() which, by a spring 8l,

v.es

Fig 2, is kept in engagement with the teeth of the ratchet- 74. Y

The arm 79 is provided with a spring S2 which is coiled about lthe hub 77 carried rearwardly and secured to the side 29, the spring acting thus to normally throw the arm 79 and its pawl 8O forward 'to-feed the ratchet 74 and roll 46 .forward to the eX- tent of the throw; v

Pivotally secured also to the side 29 just in the rear of and below theratchet 75, F ig. E2, is a horizontal lever 83, see also Figs. 5, 6, the forward end of which is bent laterally, Fig. 6, to bring it beneath the teeth of the ratchet 7 5. The lever end is also provided with a tooth 84, F ig.v 6, which, when the arm 79 isin its Fig. 2 upright position, enga-ges the teeth of ward or anticlockwise motion of the ratchet and shaft 47.

Extended upwardly from the lever 83 is a linger 85 which, when the ratchet 75 is at rest., lies close behind the arm76 and thus holds the tooth 84 on the lever ment with the ratchet locking the latter. But when the arm 7 6 is swung forward out of the path of the finger 85 by the contact therewith of the article to be sealed, the fin-.p

ger 85,- and tooth 84 on the lever 83 under the influence of spring 86 secured to the side 29 and bearing against the lever l85 is depressed, thus releasing the ratchet 75and shaft for rotation one step. l

The armv 76 will be held in forwarder stamp feeding position by the` contact with the lower end thereof of the article until the article has passed beyond the end of the arm, and then it will be returned to normal position, Fig. 9., by the spring 82.

',ihus I have provided an article controlled stamp feeding means and, being article controlled, it is variable at'will as to speed or frequency of feeding the stamp. VObviously as the arm 76 is not released until the article has passed its lower end, the arni 6 cannot rotate the roll 46 again to feed forward another stamp until it is released, whether the folder bewide or narrow.

A counter 90, Fig. l, ofeny approved type Ymay be mounted on the bracket Q5 so that it will be actuated by the travelling folders. In this case. the counter has a depending arm 87 which is raised sufficiently by each passing folder to actuate the recording mechanism.

rlhe operation of the machine is as follows: Folders 88 are fed by the operator beneath the accelerating' rolls o()y andby them drawn quickly forward so that they will be engaged by the firstpair of lugs on the'chain.

The lugs carry thev folder foiwvard beneath the picking roll 46 and aslthe folder passes beneath the roll its forward edge, Fig. 2, engages the lever arm 76l and pushes it forthe roll 46 have and then gages the wafer which yields, andis carried the ratchet 75 and prevents for-r 83 in engage- Vholding means,

ward and raises it sufiiciently to permit the folder to pass. The previous rotations of picked a series ofwafers from the magazine 23 and fed `them forward about the roll 46 guided by the finger 45 and the transferring rolls 48 and moistening roll 49 and needle 59, and the leading wafer 87* has been positioned edgewise, Fig. 3, in the pocket 23. The `forward folder edge renforward, the lower half being laid against the lower face of the kfolder by the curved edge 89 of the pocket 28. The upper half of the vwafer is laid down upon the folder by the curved edge 90 of the smoothing plate 65. As the folders are fed forward by the chains the plate 65 and table smoothout all the wrinkles in the wafer and draw the opposite halves tightly against'the edge of the folder to close the edgessecurely. As the wafer passes between the rolls 68, 69, it is pressed firmly against the opposite sides of the folder and caused to adhere securely thereto.

The feeding of the wafers is timed by proper proportioning of the length of the lever arm 76, and the size of theteeth on 'the ratchets 74, 75. y

As the arm 76 is swung forward by the folder thelinger 85 swings forward therewith and permitsfthe tooth 84cto drop from engagement with the Vratchet 75 thereby permitting the said ratchet and ratchet- 74, when the arm 76 is feeding the folder, tov rotate clockwise to the extent permit-ted by the swinging arm 76. n' n .f

During the swinging of the lever' for? ward, Va paw] 89 pivoted to theside cngages the ratchet 74 and prevents 'it fromy rotating clockwise also. QV hen thearin 76 n is allowed by the folder. to drop back to norticular embodiment herein described and i1- lustrated, but its scopeis rather to be mined by ythe appended claim Claims: o n I l. In a'machine of the class described, folder accelerating means for quickly feed# ing a folder to folder feeding means, means for feeding a folder, article controlled stepv by step wafer transferring means for/carry'- ing a wafer to the path of the folder, wafer wafer smoothing means, and wafer pressing means. n 2. In a machine-of the class described, folder feeding means, article controlled step by step wafer transferring means comprising a wafer picking roll, a wafer stripper and wafer feeding rolls cooperating therewith to carry the wafer .to the path of the folder, a pickingl roll feeding lever actuated ,deter-Z lid by the folder' for rotating the roll, and wafer smoothing means:

3. In a machine of the class described, means for feeding a folder, article controlled step by step wafer transferring means for carrying a wafer to the path of the folder and comprising a wafer picking roll, a wafer stripper and wafer feeding roll cooperating therewith, a wafer smoothing pressure plate, and a wafer pressing roll for applying the wafer to the folder.

4;. In a machine of the class described, means for feeding a folder, article controlled step by step wafer transferring means for carrying a wafer to the path of the folder and comprising a wafer picking roll, a wafer guiding pressure linger there-for, a wafer stripper and wafer feeding rolls cooperating therewith, a wafer smoothing` pressure member, for applying the wafer to the folder.

5. In a machine of the class described, means for feeding a folder or the like, a wafer magazine, article controlled step by step means for carrying a. wafer to the folder, means for stripping a wafer from the carrying means, wafer positioning means for placing a wafer loosely across the plane of travel of the folder or the like, and means for folding the wafer across the edge of the folder as the latter continues its travel including wafer smoothing means and wafer pressing means.

6. In a machine of the class described, means for moving folders or the like through the machine, means for accelerating the initial movements of the folders, a magazine for wafers, an article controlled friction wafer picking successively pick wafers from the magazine, and transferring rolls cooperating with the picking roll to transfer the wafer to the path of the folder.

7. In a machine of the class described, a belt for advancing folders or the like successively through the machine, means for accelerating part of the movement of the folders, article controlled step by step wafer transferring means including a wafer picking roll for carrying the wafers to the path of the folder, means for stripping the wafers from the wafer picking roll, and means for placing the wafer in cooperating relation with the folder.

8. In a machine of the class described, means for advancing folders at a non-uniform speed through the machine, article controlled step by step wafer supplying means comprising a wafer picking roll, and wafer feeding rolls cooperating therewith for transferring a wafer from a remote point to the plane of the folder, means for stripping a wafer from the wafer picking roll, wafer smoothing means and a wafer pressing means for drawing the opposite facing of roll adapted to' the wafer closely against the edge and opposite faces of the folder.

9. In a machine of the class described, means for moving a folder or the like through the machine at a -non-uniform speed, a wafer magazine, article controlled step by step wafer transferring means for carrying the wafer successively from the magazine including a wafer picking roll, means to strip the wafer from the picking roll, and means to receive the wafer from the stripping means and position it to be rcceived by the folder.

10. In a. machine of the class described,y comprising the table 3, folded conveyors ll, 12 thereon, means for actuating the same, the head 24 with the wafer magazine 37, the wafer guide and wafer pressing niember el on the head, folder pressure bars 33 on the table, wafer picking member e6 rotatably mounted in the head and operatively positioned relative to the magazine 37; wafer feeding rolls #i8 and moistening roll 49 in the path of travel of the wafer, pocket in the table and wafer stripping member 59 for stripping the wafer from the roll 46 and guiding the same to the pocket, wafer smoothing member and pressure means (il, 67 therefor; wafer pressing members 68, (19 and resilient member TQ for the same, and article controlled step by step wafer feeding means for the roll 4:6, comprising a ratchet member Til operatively7 connected with the roll 4:6, swinging arm 76, 79 and pawl 8l thereon movably connected with the ratchet 74: and adapted to be actuated by the moving article. to impart step by step movement to the roll 4b.

11. In a machine of the class described comprising wafer applying means, means for feeding a folder toward the wafer applying means, step by step wafer transferring means variable as to speed for transferring wafers to the folder, and wafer smoothing means to act on the wafer and folder to effect the adhesion of the former to the latter.

12. In a machine of the class described, an endless conveyer for feeding the folders through the machine, a wafer magazine, a wafer picking roll arranged to pick a wafer from the bottom of the magazine, and a wick fed moistening roll positioned to receive the wafer from the picking roll and feed it across the path of the folder.

1?). In a machine of the class described, an endless conveyor for feeding the folders through the machine, a wafer magazine, wafer carrying rolls, a wafer picking roll positioned to pick the wafers from the magazine in a plane substantially parallel with the path of the folder, wafer stripping members for stripping the wafer from the picking roll and presenting it to the carrying;r rolls, one of Which is a Wick fed inoistening,r roll.

in ai machine of the dass described, :in endless conveyer for teedingthe folders through the machine, a Wafer magazine, a wafer picking roll engaging the Waters tangentially, Wafer `guiding' finger to guide the Wafer across the path of the folder, wafer carrying rolls, including a Wick fed nioistening roll between the Wafer picking roll and the path oi the folder, und water smoothing means for .sn/ioothingv the Wafer on oppositet'nces ot' the 'folder in :i direction opposite to the direction of travel of the folder. t

In testimony7 whereof, I have signed my name to thisspeciiication.

ARTHUR H. GUSTAFSON. 

